Prince Edward Theatre
30 Old Compton Street,
London,
W1D 4HS
30 Old Compton Street,
London,
W1D 4HS
7 people
favorited this theater
Opened on April 3, 1930 as the Prince Edward Theatre and designed by Edward A. Stone with the interior decorations by Marc-Henri Levy and Gaston Laverdet.
It was equipped for film presentations from the start and was often used during the day for trade shows.
In 1954, it was altered by Frank Baessler and TPH & E Braddock to house London’s first Cinerama cinema with a massive 64-foot-wide curved screen. This was eventually removed in 1974, with a more conventional screen replacing it until 1978 when the building reverted to live shows.
During this time it was known as the Casino Cinerama Theatre and later the Casino Cinema, which showed its last fims “Mahogany” & “Lady Sings the Blues” on 8th April 1978.
On return to live shows in June 1978 (“Evita”) it reverted to its original name;Prince Edward Theatre.
A further major alteration by the architectural firm RHWL in 1993, has modernized the auditorium and made it more attractive than at any time in its history.
It is now a major theatre in London’s West End and has played long runs of “Chess”, Anything Goes", “Mama Mia” and “Mary Poppins” and “Jersey Boys.
Contributed by
Ian Grundy
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
A photograph I took of the Prince Edward Theatre in July 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/222842925/
This was originally supposed to be called the Ziegfeld Theatre and would have been the London showcase for Florenz Ziegfeld’s Broadway stage productions. But while the theatre was under construction, Ziegfeld fell out with the owners and the deal was canceled. Too late, however, to abort a production of “Rio Rita,” which had also been the premiere attraction at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. “Rio Rita” opened on schedule, but with the theatre’s name changed to Prince Edward.
Unlike New York, the show “Rio Rita” starring Edith Day & Geoffrey Gwyther, was not a success in London and only ran for 59 performaces.
Ken, The Earl Carrol did show movies between shows in 1928-1930 including, ironically, premiering the film version of RIO RITA in 1929. It also may have showed films as the Casino in 1934.
When the Ziegfeld deal fell through, the theatre was re-named Prince Edward in honor of the current heir-apparent to the English throne. I wonder how many people attending the Prince Edward Theatre today realize that it’s named for someone who became legendary as the Duke of Windsor, a peerage created from him in 1937 after he abdicated as King in order to marry an American divorcee?
A 1988 photo – when Chess was playing – here:–
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A couple of recent interior shots here:–
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Prior to this stunning renovation and rebuild it was a monstrous auditorium with little if any charm. Cameron has done an amzing job here and beteen Mary Poppins closing and Jersey Boys opens he is doing even more to make this an even better experience. He is doing tremendous work on all the West End houses he owns.
Some pre-renovation shots from 1991, I am not sure I would call it monstrous, but it is certainly vastly improved now!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5389934880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5389934680/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/5389329963/
I saw Song Of Norway (70 mm Super-Cinerama)here in 1970. A very odd experience.